yogasutra 1.27 - ashtangamarga.com

Samadhi Pada • sutra 27

तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः ॥१.२७॥ tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ ॥1.27॥
Its (tasya) expression (vācakaḥ) is the sacred sound Om (praṇavaḥ).

Word by Word Translation

तस्य (tasya) – his/her/its, of him/her/it (īśvara), of whom, of which, of the one
वाचकः (vācakaḥ) – that which expresses, indicator, symbol, word. Nominative singular of वाचक (vācaka), derived from the root वच् (vac) meaning to speak, to say
प्रणवः (praṇavaḥ) – sacred sound, “Om.” Masculine nominative singular of प्रणव (praṇava), derived from प्र (pra), meaning before, excellent, original, and the verbal root नु (nu) meaning to praise, to intone, to resound

Commentary

In this sutra, Patañjali introduces us to the sacred sound Om (praṇavaḥ), presenting it as the verbal expression of Īśvara (tasya vācakaḥ).

With this statement, a profound connection is established between sound and the divine: Om is not merely a symbolic representation, but a direct manifestation of the ultimate reality. According to the ancient Vedic vision, Om is the primordial sound from which the universe itself originated.

Tradition, particularly the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad, explains that Om is composed of three sound elements:
A: symbol of the waking state (jāgrat), in which consciousness turns outward and experiences the material world; it represents the gross aspect of the ultimate reality
U: symbol of the dreaming state (svapna), in which consciousness explores the inner world; it represents the subtle aspect of the ultimate reality
M: symbol of the deep sleep state (suṣupti), in which there is neither perception nor desire. In this state, all experiences and thoughts exist only in latent form: it is the causal condition (kāraṇa), the “matrix” from which both dreaming and waking emerge.

To these three states of consciousness is added the silence that follows the vibration of Om, symbol of Turīya: the pure consciousness, the fourth state, transcendent and immutable, beyond all phenomenal experience, which cannot be perceived or experienced through the senses, the mind, or ordinary consciousness.

Through awareness of and meditation on Om, the practitioner is led beyond the fluctuations of the mind, towards the realisation of their deepest nature and the unity with the divine.

In this sense, Om is both means and goal: a sound to listen to, a vibration to experience, and a reality to recognise.

Daily Mindfulness Bites
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead — his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms — this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.“
– Albert Einstein, The World As I See It

Insights Behind the Words – Did You Know…?

From Praṇavaḥ to Om: The term “praṇavaḥ” derives from the verbal root “nū” (नु), meaning “to praise” or “to intone,” an act of elevation and celebration of the divine. The prefix “pra-” (प्र), on the other hand, suggests the idea of “first,” “excellent,” or “primordial,” indicating a universal origin. Thus, “praṇavaḥ” is not merely a sound, but a sound that transcends the ordinary dimension, evoking a transcendental quality, like a call to the very source of existence.

The word “Om” is therefore a condensed form of this concept, expressing a primordial, universal, and divine vibration. From this perspective, Om becomes a bridge between the individual and the infinite, a key that opens the mind and heart to the perception of absolute truth and inner divinity.

Philosophical Parallels: The Tibetan mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum,” associated with Avalokiteśvara, the Buddha of Compassion, is one of the most well-known. Literally translated, it means “O Jewel in the Lotus!” but its meaning is deeper: it represents the fusion between method (compassion) and wisdom (the empty nature of reality). The mantra is used to cultivate compassion and wisdom, purifying body, speech, and mind in order to attain liberation.

The sequence “A-U-M” symbolises the actions of body, speech, and mind, which should be guided by compassion and wisdom, as taught by the Buddha.

Thus, “Om” becomes a symbol of how every action in daily life can be transformed into an act of enlightenment, resonating with the primordial sound that unites all things, just as in the yogic context.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Samadhi Pada • sutra 27

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